The 248th video of my train spotting adventures.
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This video takes us along a few stops east of Hayes & Harlington, to the small junction of West Ealing railway station. A small, 5-platform DfT Category E "Small staffed" train station, it was opened in 1871 as "Castle Hill" on the Great Western Railway, which was constructed from London Paddington through Ealing to Maidenhead in 1836–1838. The station was renamed "Castle Hill Ealing Dean" in 1875. From 1883, the station was served by District Railway services running between Mansion House and Windsor. This service was discontinued as uneconomic after 30 September 1885. On 1 July 1899, the station was renamed "West Ealing".
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Originally the station consisted of four platforms in a staggered layout: platform 1 (along with a siding) and the island comprising platforms 2 and 3 to the west of the Drayton Green Road bridge, and platform 4 on the east side. The station was located next to the London Co-operative Society's main creamery, and so was equipped with a dedicated milk train platform in the mid-1900s. Platform 1 and its siding were demolished in the late 1960s; platform 4 was demolished and moved west of the bridge by early 1990, partially covering the site of the then long-closed milk depot; platform 2 was partially demolished and fenced off by early 1991 as trains on the main line no longer served the station. The remains of the milk train platform can still be seen today, next to platform 5.
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Since October 2008, Oyster "pay as you go" can be used for journeys originating or ending at West Ealing. In December 2018, Chiltern Railways commenced operating a once per day parliamentary service on weekdays from South Ruislip and to High Wycombe via the Greenford line. It replaced a service to London Paddington via the Acton–Northolt line. It became once a week on Wednesdays only after the COVID-19 pandemic. It ran for the last time on 7 December 2022, when it was replaced by a bus service.
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West Ealing was a station earmarked for upgrades as part of the Elizabeth Line/Crossrail project. The work would include a new station building designed by Bennetts Associates with access from Manor Road, a new platform for the Greenford branch, platform extensions and step-free access to all platforms. Outside the station, public realm improvements funded by Transport for London and Ealing Borough Council would include a raised speed table with granite paving, widened pavements, street trees and cycle parking. In 2019, contracts for the new station building was awarded, allowing construction of the new station building. Following delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the new station building opened on 25 March 2021, providing step free access to all platforms. The existing station building on Drayton Green Road was permanently closed.
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Filmed on the:
Great Western Main Line
Greenford Branch (terminus)
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Services seen:
GWR) Services towards Greenford, London Paddington, Slough, Reading, Newbury, Didcot Parkway, Oxford, Worcestershire Parkway, Worcester Shrub Hill, Worcester Foregate Street, Great Malvern, Hereford, Swindon, Chippenham, Bath Spa, Bristol Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway, and onwards to various destinations in South Wales and South Western England.
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EL) Services towards Heathrow Airport, Slough, Maidenhead, Twyford, Reading, London Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, London Liverpool Street, Whitechapel, and onwards to Stratford & Shenfield, or Canary Wharf & Abbey Wood.
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Trains seen:
GWR) Class 165 Networker Turbo, Class 230 (test), Class 387 Electrostar, Class 800/802 IET
EL) Class 345 Aventra
GBRf) Class 66
FL) Class 66
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